Harmful Junk Foods For Kids: Junk foods and children have an old relationship, right? Give a kid an ice cream and he will surely give you a loving nickname. Although harmful to their health, children have an impeccable love of junk foods.
Fast foods usually attract children due to their taste and colours. But they do not understand the depth of harm they do to their health. Junk foods are relatively low in essential nutrients such as protein, fibre, vitamins and high in sugar and fats.
Therefore, giving children too much junk food can hamper their immunity, and cause stomach problems and sleep disturbances. Here is a list of some popular junk foods that your kids might love but harm their health in detrimental ways.
Harmful Junk Foods For Kids
Instant Noodles
Although an alternative for quick snacks, instant noodles contain too much sodium and have poor nutritional value that can lead to obesity, increased risk of heart disease, and metabolic syndrome.
Chicken Nuggets
Many chicken nuggets contain extra ingredients other than meat which increase the amounts of fats and calories present in them. Deep drying of chicken nuggets also adds fats and calories to them. They are also overwhelmingly high in preservatives, therefore avoid giving them to your children.
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Sugary Breakfast Cereals
Added sugar in sugary breakfast cereals can hamper a kid’s health to a great extent. Eating them in excess can cause calorie gain, and weight gain, and contribute to chronic illnesses such as heart disease and diabetes.
Potato Chips
Eating too much fried chips can lead to an increased risk of weight gain and obesity. Potato chips contain high amounts of unhealthy fats, sodium and calories that can cause numerous health problems.
Candies
Candies are a source of excess sugar that can generally lead to oral health problems such as cavities, toothache etc. They are high in preservatives, added sugar, artificial chemicals and calories that can elevate the risk of weight gain, diabetes and other diseases.
Packaged Foods
Packaged foods have poor nutritional quality which elevates the risk of fatal diseases in children. Pre-packaged snack meals are usually high in salt, sugar, unhealthy fats and preservatives that can cause heart diseases, high blood pressure and diabetes.
Burgers
From being highly processed to containing an abundance of preservatives and additives, burgers may be extremely unhealthy for people, especially kids. They contain too many calories, and high fat and carbohydrate content that may harm the body in the long run.
Pizzas
Pizzas are usually loaded with cheese and sauces that contribute to high amounts of calories. They also contain high amounts of sodium, added sugar in the crust and certain toppings that are unhealthy for kids. It can cause indigestion, stomach ache and other health problems.
(Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis or treatment.)
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